Burnley Tornados American Football Club is looking for help and it battles to stay in the area.

The Tornados have been based at The Prairie Playing Fields for several years now and have managed to build up a good relationship – both with the council and with the local community. The club itself has grown substantially in a short period of time, winning many awards both nationally and locally.

Having started as one team for children we now have five teams catering for ages from 11 to adult, both contact and non-contact teams.

Steve Tither, Tornadoes PR officer said: “The town/county has managed to acquire funding to regenerate the Prairie which is to be applauded, and welcomed by all that use it now, and hopefully the many more that will use the facilities in the future.

“The work at the Prairie commences now, and therefore the demolition of the changing rooms is imminent. “This has been our home and holds fond memories of tournaments and victories the club has held and achieved in its short history.

“We are not asking for the renovation to be stopped, we welcome it, and hope it will open up our club to the wider community once its complete.

“But now we need assistance as we require a new home, where we can train and play tournaments.

“It needsto be a playing surfaces similar to rugby pitch in size, it needs changing rooms ideally and toilet facilities/showers if possible.

“Most importantly it needs secure storage available and hopefully will remain in the local area.”

The club is hoping to keep costs to a minimal amount as it is run on tight budget and is a not for profit organisation.

“The ethos of the club when it was founded was to introduce the sport to the youth, without exclusion on race/sex/monetary restriction, and so far we have managed to successfully achieve this,” added Tither.

“The sport itself is growing in this country, Burnley Tornados has grown with it and wants to make sure Burnley and the local area are acknowledged within the sport nationally for many years to come.

“We are local, we are professional in how we portray the sport, the club and the town and we are proud to be from Burnley.

“We are proud of the club, the players past and present. What has been achieved must continue – it will continue.”

The club have been recognised in the top five nationally for the last two seasons.

“We have never really asked for help but now we need the community to stand together to make this town proud to be the home of the Tornados American Football Club.

“We really want to stay in the area so would hope that someone can come forward with a suggestion that means we can stay in the town.”

Contact the club at www. tornadosafc.com or via email tornadospr@ yahoo.co.uk If anyone can help in any way, or wish to get involved, The are always recruiting players/coaches/staff, sponsors and supporters.